, an associate of Luther in the reformation, was born in 1483, near
, an associate of Luther in the
reformation, was born in 1483, near Wurtzen in Misnia,
of a noble family. After studying divinity, he became
one of the clergy of Wittemberg, and preached also at
Magdeburgh and Naumburgh. In 1527, he accompanied
Luther, to whose doctrines he was zealously attached, to
the diet of Worms, and on his return, was in the same
carriage with that reformer, when he was seized by order
f the elector of Saxony, and conducted to Wartburgh. In
1573, he concurred in drawing up the articles of Smalcalde, and was, in 1542, appointed bishop of Naumburgh
by the elector John Frederick, who disapproved of the
choice which the chapter had made of Julius de Pflug.
But, five years after, when his patron was taken prisoner
by Charles V. he was obliged to surrender the bishopric
to Pflug, and retire to Magdeburgh. He afterwards assisted
in founding the university of Jena, which was intended as
a rival to that of Wirtemberg, and died at Eisenach,
May 14, 1565. The principal thing objected to him by
the popish writers, and by some of his biographers, is,
that in a dispute with G. Major, he maintained that good
works were hurtful to salvation: but however improper
this expression in the heat of debate, it is evident from his
writings, that he meant that good works impeded salvation
by being relied on as the cause of it, and that they were
the fruit and effect of that faith to which pardon is promised. He was one of the boldest in his time in asserting
the impiety and absurdity of the principal popish doctrines,
but from his bigotted adherence to Lutheran principles,
had too little respect for the other reformers who were of
different sentiments in some points. Moreri is wrong in
asserting that he formed a sect called by his name. Thesame principles were held by many of the Lutheran
divinos. He wrote on the “Lord’s Supper,
” and some
other controversial pieces enumerated by JVlelchior Adam,
Joecher, and Adelung.